Renewables lobby: Renewable capacity growth will slow considerably in Spain this year

Spain could bring around 4 GW of solar and wind capacity online this year, according to local lobby groups. Compared with more than 6 GW last year, this would represent a significant slowdown in the pace of new installations. It is also below the annual increase the country would need to meet its 2030 targets.

Last year, 6.2 GW of new solar and wind capacity was brought online in Spain, according to Montel. Renewable energy construction, particularly that of decentralised solar PV installations, began gathering pace in Europe last year as consumers showed greater interest in generating their own electricity in response to its sharp price increase. In Spain, however, new installations have fallen this year because fewer projects are under construction.

According to José Donoso, director of the solar lobby group Unef, the country has installed around 1 GW of new solar capacity this year and expects a similar increase by year-end. To meet its renewable energy targets, however, Spain would need to install 3 GW of new solar capacity annually to reach 39.2 GW by 2030, Donoso said. The market is expected to recover in 2024, as a number of projects received permits this January, which should allow them to connect to the grid by the end of next year.